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Chronicles of the House of Valois #2
The Importance of Sons
Claude is queen in name only. Can she outwit her rival, win her husband to her side, save her sister, and assert her power? . . . Danger lurks beneath the glitter of the sixteenth century French court. The queen lies dying; the king has but months to live. Their two daughters, Claude and young Ren�e are heiresses to the rich duchy of Brittany. Countess Louise, their guardian, schemes to steal their inheritance. For years she has envied the dying Queen Anne, the girls' mother. She plots to marry wealthy Claude to her son. Her unexpected guardianship presents a golden opportunity, but only if she can remove their protectress Baronne Michelle, who loves the princesses and safeguards their interests. As political tensions rise, the futures of Princess Ren�e and the Baronne hang in the balance, threatened by Countess Louise's designs. Will timid Claude untangle the treacherous intrigues Countess Louise is weaving? Can she outflank the wily countess to protect young Princess Ren�e? And can she find the courage to defend those she loves?
- GenresHistorical FictionFrance
400 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 24, 2022
255 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Keira Morgan
3 books49 followers Keira Morgan As a kid Keira was a bookworm. It was then that she discovered the Renaissance as a wonderful place of queens, princesses, and castles. She studied the period at university and realized that life for those same queens and princesses in their castles wasn’t nearly as romantic as she had dreamed, but it was much more fascinating. The clothing, the food, the way people travelled, how they lived, how they brought up their children, what they thought about, and why—all these things intrigued her.
She studied Renaissance history at university and her fascination with the period grew. So, during her career in the Canadian public service, she wrote fiction about the period in her spare time. She then moved to Mexico where she pursues her writing full time. She recently completed The Importance of Wives, her third published novel about Anne of Brittany, in her The Chronicles of the House of Valois series. The Importance of Sons and The Importance of Pawns continue the story of this determined woman who was also twice queen of France.
She is also a member of the France’s Splendid Centuries Writing Cooperative that together writes a weekly Facebook blog about fascinating aspects of French history, culture and people.
She loves reading, swimming, gardening, cooking, travelling, research, and cats as well as writing.
She also writes non-fiction about French Renaissance women at www.keiramorgan.com
She studied Renaissance history at university and her fascination with the period grew. So, during her career in the Canadian public service, she wrote fiction about the period in her spare time. She then moved to Mexico where she pursues her writing full time. She recently completed The Importance of Wives, her third published novel about Anne of Brittany, in her The Chronicles of the House of Valois series. The Importance of Sons and The Importance of Pawns continue the story of this determined woman who was also twice queen of France.
She is also a member of the France’s Splendid Centuries Writing Cooperative that together writes a weekly Facebook blog about fascinating aspects of French history, culture and people.
She loves reading, swimming, gardening, cooking, travelling, research, and cats as well as writing.
She also writes non-fiction about French Renaissance women at www.keiramorgan.com
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 4, 2024
An interesting portrayal of vicious politics and ambitions in the French court. The characters are sharp, determined, and genuine, following a winding path of rivalry, betrayal, and aspirations. This is a perfect read for fans of drama, politics, and history, as this closely follows the reign and inner thoughts of a lesser known European queen. I am looking forward to the installment of the series.
Thank you so much to Book Sirens and Kiera J Morgan for this ARC. Please look for this title come June 2022!
Thank you so much to Book Sirens and Kiera J Morgan for this ARC. Please look for this title come June 2022!
July 24, 2022
Enjoyable
A bitter rivalry between two strong women, Anne of Brittany and Louise, mother of Francois I. Both women were set in their ways and had a penchant to do whatever it took to achieve their goals. It did have a bit too much narrative for me but overall a satisfying read.
A bitter rivalry between two strong women, Anne of Brittany and Louise, mother of Francois I. Both women were set in their ways and had a penchant to do whatever it took to achieve their goals. It did have a bit too much narrative for me but overall a satisfying read.
September 27, 2024
I got a copy of this for free, as with the first book, which I really liked, so I wanted to read this too.
In this we go a bit back in time, to Anne of Brittany (the mother of Claude and Renée that we followed in the first book), and also Louise d’Angoulême who was also featured in the first book. It was cool to read her motivations from a younger age.
I really enjoyed this, but it was very sad in terms of all the miscarriages / stillbirths / deaths, so if you're sensitive to pregnancy loss, be mindful of that.
It's well written, and while I didn't feel there was a plot arc, it kept me so engaged that I finished it in less than 24 hours - the ending did feel a bit abrupt though.
I'd recommend this for fans of Philippa Gregory and Ken Follett.
Some "technical" stuff:
There are numbered "footnotes" for words the reader might not be familiar with, but the explanation doesn't show up until the end of the chapter, which was a bit annoying, especially when reading digitally.
The cover is the portrait of Eleanor of Toledo and her son (1545), so not connected to this story.
In this we go a bit back in time, to Anne of Brittany (the mother of Claude and Renée that we followed in the first book), and also Louise d’Angoulême who was also featured in the first book. It was cool to read her motivations from a younger age.
I really enjoyed this, but it was very sad in terms of all the miscarriages / stillbirths / deaths, so if you're sensitive to pregnancy loss, be mindful of that.
It's well written, and while I didn't feel there was a plot arc, it kept me so engaged that I finished it in less than 24 hours - the ending did feel a bit abrupt though.
I'd recommend this for fans of Philippa Gregory and Ken Follett.
Some "technical" stuff:
There are numbered "footnotes" for words the reader might not be familiar with, but the explanation doesn't show up until the end of the chapter, which was a bit annoying, especially when reading digitally.
The cover is the portrait of Eleanor of Toledo and her son (1545), so not connected to this story.
November 23, 2022
Keira Morgan has crafted an opening to “The Importance of Sons” that will draw the reader in with the urgency and shock of unfolding events. No frivolous courtier scene here! Yet the reader who loves the dazzling elegance of court life will not be disappointed as the story progresses.
The tale begins as Anne of Brittany flees a forced marriage that brought disaster to her land, only to escape into another uncertain marriage she is hoping she will not regret. From early in the story, we not only learn of Anne’s fears and passions, but we also see the inner workings of Anne’s ancestral rival, Countess Louise d’Angoulême, who is strategizing to follow through on her family’s insistence that the ducal coronet of Brittany belongs to them. By providing an heir, Anne can save the duchy, but she worries that she will not be able to protect her son from the powerful Countess.
The author’s attention to historical detail shows not only in the personages and politics, but also in the deftly interwoven details of the life and times that inform and propel the story forward.
Merged review:
Keira Morgan has crafted an opening to “The Importance of Sons” that will draw the reader in with the urgency and shock of unfolding events. No frivolous courtier scene here! Yet the reader who loves the dazzling elegance of court life will not be disappointed as the story progresses.
The tale begins as Anne of Brittany flees a forced marriage that brought disaster to her land, only to escape into another uncertain marriage she is hoping she will not regret. From early in the story, we not only learn of Anne’s fears and passions, but we also see the inner workings of Anne’s ancestral rival, Countess Louise d’Angoulême, who is strategizing to follow through on her family’s insistence that the ducal coronet of Brittany belongs to them. By providing an heir, Anne can save the duchy, but she worries that she will not be able to protect her son from the powerful Countess.
The author’s attention to historical detail shows not only in the personages and politics, but also in the deftly interwoven details of the life and times that inform and propel the story forward.
The tale begins as Anne of Brittany flees a forced marriage that brought disaster to her land, only to escape into another uncertain marriage she is hoping she will not regret. From early in the story, we not only learn of Anne’s fears and passions, but we also see the inner workings of Anne’s ancestral rival, Countess Louise d’Angoulême, who is strategizing to follow through on her family’s insistence that the ducal coronet of Brittany belongs to them. By providing an heir, Anne can save the duchy, but she worries that she will not be able to protect her son from the powerful Countess.
The author’s attention to historical detail shows not only in the personages and politics, but also in the deftly interwoven details of the life and times that inform and propel the story forward.
Merged review:
Keira Morgan has crafted an opening to “The Importance of Sons” that will draw the reader in with the urgency and shock of unfolding events. No frivolous courtier scene here! Yet the reader who loves the dazzling elegance of court life will not be disappointed as the story progresses.
The tale begins as Anne of Brittany flees a forced marriage that brought disaster to her land, only to escape into another uncertain marriage she is hoping she will not regret. From early in the story, we not only learn of Anne’s fears and passions, but we also see the inner workings of Anne’s ancestral rival, Countess Louise d’Angoulême, who is strategizing to follow through on her family’s insistence that the ducal coronet of Brittany belongs to them. By providing an heir, Anne can save the duchy, but she worries that she will not be able to protect her son from the powerful Countess.
The author’s attention to historical detail shows not only in the personages and politics, but also in the deftly interwoven details of the life and times that inform and propel the story forward.
June 19, 2022
This book is a prequel to “The Importance of Pawns”, though interestingly enough, it, too, contains its own pawns in the unsparing world of French royalty. We mostly follow Queen Anne, Duchess of Brittany who was forced to marry King Charles to save her country from war and ruin. She loves King Charles, but he manages to break every single promise he made before she agreed to marry him. And she feels helpless to object. The only thing that gives her a semblance of power—and control—is her ability to bear children, and even this goes awry. So when her rival Louise, Countess d’Angouleme successfully gives birth to Francis—who is heir presumptive—the antagonism increases in volume. From the Pawns novel, we already know that Louise is a grasping opportunist, and here she practically outdoes herself in vicious innuendo. But Anne is no fool and does her best to steer clear of her annoying relative. However, she does feel isolated and inevitably strikes out at whoever she perceives to be acting against her—in this case, Duke Louis d’Orleans who is the current dauphin:
Charles and Cousin Catherine looked horrified. Anne’s voice shook. “You rejoice, Cousin Louis. That is what I see. My precious son is dead, and you rejoice... for now you are dauphin.” Once started she could not stop the words that exploded from her like steam from a plugged kettle. “Not content with that, you cannot wait, but rush to step into my husband’s shoes. You have offended me.” With that, she hurried from the hall.
That takes some fixing! But Louis is not a bad sort, and fortunately they do come to an understanding. Why is this important? Because, again as we see in Pawns, she becomes his queen. How she got there is divulged in this novel. Great reading about a period that doesn’t get enough coverage.
Charles and Cousin Catherine looked horrified. Anne’s voice shook. “You rejoice, Cousin Louis. That is what I see. My precious son is dead, and you rejoice... for now you are dauphin.” Once started she could not stop the words that exploded from her like steam from a plugged kettle. “Not content with that, you cannot wait, but rush to step into my husband’s shoes. You have offended me.” With that, she hurried from the hall.
That takes some fixing! But Louis is not a bad sort, and fortunately they do come to an understanding. Why is this important? Because, again as we see in Pawns, she becomes his queen. How she got there is divulged in this novel. Great reading about a period that doesn’t get enough coverage.
February 23, 2023
Dressed as a boy, small and slender for her years, she looked like a child of ten. But behind those large hazel eyes and flawless complexion lay a mind as sharp as a dagger and an iron will. She was as immovable as those giant granite boulders rooted into the rocky soil along the coast of Brittany that had stood there for longer than time itself.
In 15th century France, one incredible woman rises to the throne... not just once, but twice in her lifetime – Anne, Duchess of Brittany. In history, this fascinating woman saw a vast line of suitors, from the likes of Henry Tudor to Edward, Prince of Wales, as well as Maximillian I of Austria, to whom she later wedded by proxy at the tender age of eleven. But as politics would have it, King Charles VIII of France maneuvered the dissolution of that marriage and wed Anne at Chateau de Langeais on 6 December 1491, with Pope Innocent validating the union early the next year. Their marriage brought peace between the Duchy of Brittany and the Kingdom of France... and Anne's focus became the bearing of an heir for the throne, as well as for the Duchy.
Wars left innocent people homeless and bereft – not only of their loved ones, but also of their homes and lands. They beggared a country and stole its wealth. And everywhere, death, death, death. Yes, she was a devout Christian, and she believed in obeying His Holiness, but could they not send mercenaries and gold? Pope Innocent did not need her husband as much as she did.
Within the intrigue and political wranglings of France and all the surrounding kingdoms, a woman's place, that of bearing a child to carry on the noble line, was of utmost importance. As a young fifteen-year-old, she had much to learn about the French court, taken away from her homeland and surrounded by enemies... and other women who viewed her in an unfavorable light.
One of these women, Louise d'Angoulême resents Queen Anne from the outset... and determines to compete with her in bringing a son to birth, especially after Louise receives a blessing about the fate of her son. The throne of France is in her sights... yet Queen Anne is in her way, along with any sons that she bears.
Still, it was only at the instant that she saw Duchess Anne in the entryway to the great hall that Louise hated her. The feeling came over her in a molten flood, starting in her heart and burning outward through her veins until she could feel the heat flowing through the soles of her shoes and out the tips of her fingers. She was glad to curtsey so she could lower her head, for her face felt flushed.
When Anne bears a son, Charles-Orland, Louise becomes even more determined for her son to reign, and after the King sets off to conquer Italy, Countess Louise uses all her skills, especially those of spying, to challenge Queen Anne's position. This rivalry is the basis for Ms Morgan's novel, and delves deep into the challenges beset on women of the day... not only in the political arena, but in the precarious times and fragility of bearing children. So many women lost their lives. So many children never reached their first year. Due to sickness, unhealthy conditions, disease, and many other factors, women faced fear head-on each time the birthing day approached. Ms Morgan depicts the scenes with utmost care and historical accuracy, yet still allows the reader to truly feel the anguish of mothers during that day... and sometimes with tragic results.
She stopped and sat in silence beside Madame la Grande. When she spoke again, her voice was stronger. “I also learned a great deal from you and came to admire you. It is never easy to rule. When I ruled as duchess before, I was so young. I did not fully understand hard choices until the treaty. It was easier to blame you than... I understand better now.”
Anne's reigned alongside Charles until his death, and then, according to a previous treaty, married Louis XII after an arranged annulment of his marriage to Joan of France, and was able to reestablish the Duchy of Brittany under her control. The author portrays Anne's character quite successfully, as a strong and resilient woman who learns much during the years, morphing knowledge into wisdom, and overcoming tragedy after tragedy. There are moments of utter sadness in the narrative, heart-wrenching yet poignant passages, all revealing the human heart and connecting the reader to this remarkable historic woman. There is an old saying that says, 'behind every great man is a great woman' and Anne is the epitome of this saying... not only for one King of France but for two. This is a great pure historical read, one that educates as well as entertains, and is highly recommended.
“All is as well as it can be in this imperfect world.”
*****
“The Importance of Sons” by Kiera Morgan receives five stars from The Historical Fiction Company and the “Highly Recommended” award of excellence
In 15th century France, one incredible woman rises to the throne... not just once, but twice in her lifetime – Anne, Duchess of Brittany. In history, this fascinating woman saw a vast line of suitors, from the likes of Henry Tudor to Edward, Prince of Wales, as well as Maximillian I of Austria, to whom she later wedded by proxy at the tender age of eleven. But as politics would have it, King Charles VIII of France maneuvered the dissolution of that marriage and wed Anne at Chateau de Langeais on 6 December 1491, with Pope Innocent validating the union early the next year. Their marriage brought peace between the Duchy of Brittany and the Kingdom of France... and Anne's focus became the bearing of an heir for the throne, as well as for the Duchy.
Wars left innocent people homeless and bereft – not only of their loved ones, but also of their homes and lands. They beggared a country and stole its wealth. And everywhere, death, death, death. Yes, she was a devout Christian, and she believed in obeying His Holiness, but could they not send mercenaries and gold? Pope Innocent did not need her husband as much as she did.
Within the intrigue and political wranglings of France and all the surrounding kingdoms, a woman's place, that of bearing a child to carry on the noble line, was of utmost importance. As a young fifteen-year-old, she had much to learn about the French court, taken away from her homeland and surrounded by enemies... and other women who viewed her in an unfavorable light.
One of these women, Louise d'Angoulême resents Queen Anne from the outset... and determines to compete with her in bringing a son to birth, especially after Louise receives a blessing about the fate of her son. The throne of France is in her sights... yet Queen Anne is in her way, along with any sons that she bears.
Still, it was only at the instant that she saw Duchess Anne in the entryway to the great hall that Louise hated her. The feeling came over her in a molten flood, starting in her heart and burning outward through her veins until she could feel the heat flowing through the soles of her shoes and out the tips of her fingers. She was glad to curtsey so she could lower her head, for her face felt flushed.
When Anne bears a son, Charles-Orland, Louise becomes even more determined for her son to reign, and after the King sets off to conquer Italy, Countess Louise uses all her skills, especially those of spying, to challenge Queen Anne's position. This rivalry is the basis for Ms Morgan's novel, and delves deep into the challenges beset on women of the day... not only in the political arena, but in the precarious times and fragility of bearing children. So many women lost their lives. So many children never reached their first year. Due to sickness, unhealthy conditions, disease, and many other factors, women faced fear head-on each time the birthing day approached. Ms Morgan depicts the scenes with utmost care and historical accuracy, yet still allows the reader to truly feel the anguish of mothers during that day... and sometimes with tragic results.
She stopped and sat in silence beside Madame la Grande. When she spoke again, her voice was stronger. “I also learned a great deal from you and came to admire you. It is never easy to rule. When I ruled as duchess before, I was so young. I did not fully understand hard choices until the treaty. It was easier to blame you than... I understand better now.”
Anne's reigned alongside Charles until his death, and then, according to a previous treaty, married Louis XII after an arranged annulment of his marriage to Joan of France, and was able to reestablish the Duchy of Brittany under her control. The author portrays Anne's character quite successfully, as a strong and resilient woman who learns much during the years, morphing knowledge into wisdom, and overcoming tragedy after tragedy. There are moments of utter sadness in the narrative, heart-wrenching yet poignant passages, all revealing the human heart and connecting the reader to this remarkable historic woman. There is an old saying that says, 'behind every great man is a great woman' and Anne is the epitome of this saying... not only for one King of France but for two. This is a great pure historical read, one that educates as well as entertains, and is highly recommended.
“All is as well as it can be in this imperfect world.”
*****
“The Importance of Sons” by Kiera Morgan receives five stars from The Historical Fiction Company and the “Highly Recommended” award of excellence
October 24, 2022
Story Good & Enjoyable Read but Errors Abound
I enjoyed the story: it moved along nicely and held my attention. But many errors (& I am not a French medieval scholar)! The Character List, while helpful, cannot be trusted for accuracy. It confuses Jean I de Rohan w his son, II, states that Catherine de Breze was Louis XI’s granddaughter when she was Charles VII’s (Louis would have been her half uncle), irregular dates abound, & likely more: I only checked some things. Have no idea why Jeanne of Naples was changed to Joanne—only one other Jeanne, & they’re never in the same scenes, and Jeanne of Naples was dead or close to it before the brief queenship of Louis XII’s Jeanne. And characters that should have been defined (or maybe not even used), such as Queen Catherine of Navarre: why was she featured prominently at a Xmas court when she hadn’t been mentioned before (nor after). I could guess (after research), but seems unnecessary to throw in historical characters for unexplained reasons and exclude them from the List. And the footnotes: very few were necessary, and some that would have been were left out (luckily I’m on the kindle app so highlight & voila: a definition. But I definitely didn’t need prie-dieu, hairshirt, & many more, footnoted. And there were silly errors in the text, such as naming John the Baptist’s mom as Sara when the Bible states it was Elizabeth.
But while I have complaints, I did enjoy the story, and it led me to learn more about the characters (& figure out just how Charles & Louis [& Francis] were cousins and how the latter two became dauphins; it’s a complicated era in the French monarch.) it is, after all, a historical NOVEL.
I enjoyed the story: it moved along nicely and held my attention. But many errors (& I am not a French medieval scholar)! The Character List, while helpful, cannot be trusted for accuracy. It confuses Jean I de Rohan w his son, II, states that Catherine de Breze was Louis XI’s granddaughter when she was Charles VII’s (Louis would have been her half uncle), irregular dates abound, & likely more: I only checked some things. Have no idea why Jeanne of Naples was changed to Joanne—only one other Jeanne, & they’re never in the same scenes, and Jeanne of Naples was dead or close to it before the brief queenship of Louis XII’s Jeanne. And characters that should have been defined (or maybe not even used), such as Queen Catherine of Navarre: why was she featured prominently at a Xmas court when she hadn’t been mentioned before (nor after). I could guess (after research), but seems unnecessary to throw in historical characters for unexplained reasons and exclude them from the List. And the footnotes: very few were necessary, and some that would have been were left out (luckily I’m on the kindle app so highlight & voila: a definition. But I definitely didn’t need prie-dieu, hairshirt, & many more, footnoted. And there were silly errors in the text, such as naming John the Baptist’s mom as Sara when the Bible states it was Elizabeth.
But while I have complaints, I did enjoy the story, and it led me to learn more about the characters (& figure out just how Charles & Louis [& Francis] were cousins and how the latter two became dauphins; it’s a complicated era in the French monarch.) it is, after all, a historical NOVEL.
February 25, 2025
Absolutely stupid to read.
While the history is as accurate as it might be, the writing is simplistic and stunningly naive.
This is just not good story telling.
My primary objection is that because the setting is medieval France, Brittany and the high court settings, the dialogue has to be readable to the average speaker. When trying to put dialogue into your characters mouths so they can be understood and given their due voices, it doesn't help to try to make the regional accents appear in print as ('E does aren't AP-peer to be telling'zee t'root'). WTH?
I KNEW what the sentence said but I thought it was awkward and cumbersome to keep running up against such obviously structural deficiencies and linguistic tropes that, when delivered audibly might be easily understood but on the page, when trying to keep a complex plot lines and all the characters straight, it was unnecessary and trite.
We cannot assume everyone spoke with the same quirky styles or in similar speech patterns, of course that would be juvenile and pointless. But when you want your reader to make it through your chapters please don't underestimate their ability to differentiate between regions, classes, speech patterns and phrasing based on the cheap trick of guttural utterances that are as realistic as the fairy tale that tells children the moon is made of green cheese!
It's a cheap trick and put me off this author immediately.
I deleted her from my feed and have no intention of reading any more garbage.
" 'Eez zat cleer'? "
While the history is as accurate as it might be, the writing is simplistic and stunningly naive.
This is just not good story telling.
My primary objection is that because the setting is medieval France, Brittany and the high court settings, the dialogue has to be readable to the average speaker. When trying to put dialogue into your characters mouths so they can be understood and given their due voices, it doesn't help to try to make the regional accents appear in print as ('E does aren't AP-peer to be telling'zee t'root'). WTH?
I KNEW what the sentence said but I thought it was awkward and cumbersome to keep running up against such obviously structural deficiencies and linguistic tropes that, when delivered audibly might be easily understood but on the page, when trying to keep a complex plot lines and all the characters straight, it was unnecessary and trite.
We cannot assume everyone spoke with the same quirky styles or in similar speech patterns, of course that would be juvenile and pointless. But when you want your reader to make it through your chapters please don't underestimate their ability to differentiate between regions, classes, speech patterns and phrasing based on the cheap trick of guttural utterances that are as realistic as the fairy tale that tells children the moon is made of green cheese!
It's a cheap trick and put me off this author immediately.
I deleted her from my feed and have no intention of reading any more garbage.
" 'Eez zat cleer'? "
September 15, 2022
Well researched HF
I would actually give this 3 1/2 stars. The author does a good job of recreating the 15th century French Court and has a good grip on the culture and politics. The writing style is somewhat pedestrian, yet manages to hold the reader's interest. My problem was with sloppy editing and continuity. Tense and grammar mistakes crop up too frequently. And the Queen's dog Fanchon is first a puppy she brought with her from Brittany, then a gift from the King, at one point male, then female. These mistakes are distracting, annoying and take away from the quality of the work.
I would actually give this 3 1/2 stars. The author does a good job of recreating the 15th century French Court and has a good grip on the culture and politics. The writing style is somewhat pedestrian, yet manages to hold the reader's interest. My problem was with sloppy editing and continuity. Tense and grammar mistakes crop up too frequently. And the Queen's dog Fanchon is first a puppy she brought with her from Brittany, then a gift from the King, at one point male, then female. These mistakes are distracting, annoying and take away from the quality of the work.
February 17, 2023
Its in depth, but I kept feeling like I was reading a flashback that never ended instead of a story in present tense. I think since this was a prequel, there was also a lack of wanting to know what happens next. I already knew from a historical and literary standpoint!
May 19, 2023
Queen Anne
This was pretty good. I have never read anything on the French royal line. It was hard at first to keep the language and names straight, but not impossible. I do look forward to the next installment.
This was pretty good. I have never read anything on the French royal line. It was hard at first to keep the language and names straight, but not impossible. I do look forward to the next installment.
September 13, 2022
Excellent
Enjoyed this book greatly. Wish it could have gone on a bit longer. Worth my time and I think anyone else will agree.
Enjoyed this book greatly. Wish it could have gone on a bit longer. Worth my time and I think anyone else will agree.
September 13, 2022
French history from women's views
Although I love all things related to history. It was refreshing to find an account of the women behind the thrones.
Although I love all things related to history. It was refreshing to find an account of the women behind the thrones.
October 24, 2022
Interesting time period
It was a bit boring at times, but interesting enough for me to keep reading. The primary characters were realistic.
It was a bit boring at times, but interesting enough for me to keep reading. The primary characters were realistic.
February 23, 2023
best for folks who can manage a lot of characters
I liked it well enough because it was historical. I didn’t like the lack of women’s rights and the way religion ruled life.
I liked it well enough because it was historical. I didn’t like the lack of women’s rights and the way religion ruled life.
February 25, 2023
Great read!
I love historical fiction and a well written author. I truly enjoyed this first read and hope there is more to come.
I love historical fiction and a well written author. I truly enjoyed this first read and hope there is more to come.
September 9, 2025
A well-researched trip back into Renaissance France, with strong women characters, and a plot that kept me turning pages. Perfect for lovers of French history.
July 4, 2022
Another great story in the Chronicals of Valois!
I really enjoyed the Importance of Pawns, the first book un this series so signed up eagerly to pre-buy Ms. Morgan's second tale in the Chronicles of Valois.
I was immediately swirled into the turbulent, tempestuous life of the young Duchess Anne, brave, enormously strong and wise, especially for a fifteen-year-old. I couldn't help but be drawn to her calm, compelling leadership, and then her travails as she struggles with her new marriage and pregnancy. As she wrestles with jealously and hurt toward her husband, and grief over the loss of her son, my heart was wrung.
So I fully expected to loathe Louise, in a sense Anne's nemesis, but Ms. Morgan delicately paints a much more complex and ambiguous picture of Anne's chief rival. She leaps off the page, fully 3D, and I found I developed a reluctant understanding of her villainy and even admiration for her dogged persistence in trying to secure the thrown for HER son.
Strongly recommend it! Even if you'd not a habitual reader of historical fiction, this was a gripping and enjoyable story. Plus, I learned a ton I never knew about the Renaissance!
I really enjoyed the Importance of Pawns, the first book un this series so signed up eagerly to pre-buy Ms. Morgan's second tale in the Chronicles of Valois.
I was immediately swirled into the turbulent, tempestuous life of the young Duchess Anne, brave, enormously strong and wise, especially for a fifteen-year-old. I couldn't help but be drawn to her calm, compelling leadership, and then her travails as she struggles with her new marriage and pregnancy. As she wrestles with jealously and hurt toward her husband, and grief over the loss of her son, my heart was wrung.
So I fully expected to loathe Louise, in a sense Anne's nemesis, but Ms. Morgan delicately paints a much more complex and ambiguous picture of Anne's chief rival. She leaps off the page, fully 3D, and I found I developed a reluctant understanding of her villainy and even admiration for her dogged persistence in trying to secure the thrown for HER son.
Strongly recommend it! Even if you'd not a habitual reader of historical fiction, this was a gripping and enjoyable story. Plus, I learned a ton I never knew about the Renaissance!
June 26, 2022
This engaging story is a well-written depiction of a pivotal moment in French history, at the union of Brittany and France. Ms. Morgan does a great job of making historical events feel vibrant by breathing life into the figures at the center of what was a very uncertain and fraught time. This isn’t one of those stories told from a servant’s perspective; our characters are the ones shaping events. Though I’m familiar with the time period, Ms. Morgan’s choices in what to depict contained some enjoyable surprises and kept me wanting to know what happens next.
Through her depictions, Ms. Morgan reveals the fears, hopes, and emotions of the characters involved in the decision-making. Most critically, those feelings are entirely appropriate for the time period, refreshingly bereft of modern contamination. She includes rich and period-appropriate detail, and exactly the right amount. I could infer how these characters spent their days. Ms. Morgan did a great job of sprinkling details and historical context through the story without overloading the reader.
By splitting the points-of-view between Anne of Brittany and Louise of Savoy (Louise d’Angouleme in the story, named for her title at the time), Ms. Morgan juxtaposes their fortunes in a way that makes the most of the uncertainty of the time period. Both are flawed characters, but the reader roots for both of them despite those flaws. That’s an incredibly nuanced and difficult balance for a writer to achieve, but Ms. Morgan does it incredibly well.
I highly recommend this novel for anyone who reads historical fiction to dig beneath the facts to get at the heart of the emotions, motivations, and fears of figures involved.
Note: I had the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel.
Through her depictions, Ms. Morgan reveals the fears, hopes, and emotions of the characters involved in the decision-making. Most critically, those feelings are entirely appropriate for the time period, refreshingly bereft of modern contamination. She includes rich and period-appropriate detail, and exactly the right amount. I could infer how these characters spent their days. Ms. Morgan did a great job of sprinkling details and historical context through the story without overloading the reader.
By splitting the points-of-view between Anne of Brittany and Louise of Savoy (Louise d’Angouleme in the story, named for her title at the time), Ms. Morgan juxtaposes their fortunes in a way that makes the most of the uncertainty of the time period. Both are flawed characters, but the reader roots for both of them despite those flaws. That’s an incredibly nuanced and difficult balance for a writer to achieve, but Ms. Morgan does it incredibly well.
I highly recommend this novel for anyone who reads historical fiction to dig beneath the facts to get at the heart of the emotions, motivations, and fears of figures involved.
Note: I had the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel.
May 30, 2022
I really enjoyed reading about Queen Anne! I had read the first book and had found it very good: this second novel is as interesting, informative and captivating as book 1. I found it fascinating and angering to read how little power a queen actually had, particularly in France! Even as far as her children were concerned, she had no saying; even when this queen had ruled over Brittany! Once married, her independence was gone. Will she be able to change this? Will she get to have a say about her children? What about Brittany? She was so young when she had to marry Charles!
I can't wait for the third novel of the series!
I received a complementary ARC from BookSirens in exchange for my honest review.
I can't wait for the third novel of the series!
I received a complementary ARC from BookSirens in exchange for my honest review.
August 10, 2022
A detailed historical novel set during the French renaissance, The Importance of Sons is by turns heartbreaking, breathtaking, and informative. Part of a longer series, it reads as a chapter in a series of events that were incredibly complex and is a great example of how fiction can show us the ways in which our times are not all that different from the past--the pettiness of politicians and the affect their prejudices and assumptions have on the life of a nation is just plain terrifying at times. I received an advance review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 28, 2022
Interesting novel about a lesser-known French queen who lived an eventful life and fought hard (although ultimately in vain) to preserve the independence of her duchy, Brittany.
I enjoyed this as much as the earlier volume in the series and look forward to more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed this as much as the earlier volume in the series and look forward to more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 30, 2022
I had a great time reading this book, it was a great sequel to The Importance of Pawns. The characters were wonderfully done and I had enjoyed the previous book. This book was just as strong.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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